NEW DELHI/EVIAN: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held an important bilateral meeting in Evian on the sidelines of international engagements, reaffirming their commitment to strengthening India-Ukraine relations, restoring trade ties disrupted by the ongoing war, and expanding cooperation across several sectors.
The meeting underscored India’s balanced foreign policy approach and highlighted New Delhi’s continued emphasis on peace, diplomacy and humanitarian values amid the prolonged Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Prime Minister Modi said India and Ukraine have significantly increased engagement in recent years and both countries are keen to build upon the existing momentum.
“Met President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Evian. In recent times, India and Ukraine have been engaging extensively. This has been reflected in different areas of our cooperation. Our talks today were about reviewing different aspects of our cooperation. We both agree that trade ties need to be restored to what they were in the pre-war time. Also reiterated that India will always be on the side of peace, placing the values of humanity over everything else,” PM Modi said.
President Zelenskyy also described the meeting as productive and expressed confidence about expanding bilateral cooperation between the two nations.
“I met with Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi. Our countries have great potential for cooperation, and we are already implementing joint projects. Today, we discussed how to give them even more substance and expand cooperation across various sectors,” Zelenskyy said.
He further added that Prime Minister Modi is interested in developing mutually beneficial relations with Ukraine and believes the partnership can strengthen both nations.
“There are good industrial and other projects that we can implement together. We agreed that our teams would work through all the details,” Zelenskyy said.
Focus on Restoring Trade Relations
One of the major highlights of the meeting was the shared commitment to restoring bilateral trade to pre-war levels.
Before the Russia-Ukraine conflict erupted in February 2022, India and Ukraine enjoyed robust economic ties. Ukraine was one of India’s important trading partners in Eastern Europe, particularly in sectors such as agriculture, edible oils, pharmaceuticals, machinery and chemicals.
The war significantly disrupted supply chains, logistics and overall trade volumes between the two countries.
Both leaders acknowledged the need to rebuild commercial connections and create fresh opportunities for businesses and investors.
Officials from both sides are expected to explore new avenues in infrastructure, technology, manufacturing, energy, agriculture and industrial collaboration.
India’s Foreign Policy: Strategic Balance and Peace Diplomacy
The meeting also highlighted India’s independent foreign policy doctrine, which seeks to maintain strong relationships with all major global partners while prioritising national interests.
Since the beginning of the Russia-Ukraine war, India has adopted a carefully balanced position. New Delhi has consistently called for dialogue, diplomacy and an immediate cessation of hostilities without directly aligning with either side.
India has repeatedly stressed that this is not an era of war and that solutions can only emerge through peaceful negotiations.
At the same time, India has continued to maintain its long-standing strategic partnership with Russia while simultaneously strengthening ties with Ukraine and engaging closely with Western countries.
This approach reflects India’s broader foreign policy principle of strategic autonomy, allowing it to pursue independent decisions based on its national interests and global responsibilities.
Evolution of India-Ukraine Relations
India and Ukraine established diplomatic relations in 1992 after Ukraine gained independence following the dissolution of the Soviet Union.
Over the past three decades, bilateral relations have expanded steadily.
Key areas of cooperation include:
- Agriculture and food security
- Pharmaceutical exports
- Information technology
- Education and academic exchanges
- Defence and industrial cooperation
- Science and technology partnerships
India has also provided humanitarian assistance to Ukraine during the ongoing conflict, including medicines, medical supplies and relief materials.
In recent years, direct engagement between the leadership of both countries has intensified, signalling a willingness to deepen cooperation despite geopolitical challenges.
Significance of the Evian Meeting
The Modi-Zelenskyy meeting sends a strong diplomatic message that India intends to remain an active stakeholder in global peace efforts while expanding partnerships based on mutual benefit.
For Ukraine, stronger engagement with India opens opportunities to diversify economic partnerships beyond Europe. For India, closer ties with Ukraine can strengthen supply chains, industrial partnerships and strategic outreach in Eastern Europe.
As geopolitical tensions continue to reshape global alliances, both nations appear committed to building a pragmatic relationship focused on economic recovery, humanitarian values and long-term cooperation.
The discussions in Evian may serve as another important step toward redefining India-Ukraine relations in the post-war era while reinforcing India’s position as a nation advocating dialogue, peace and balanced diplomacy on the world stage.
